You may notice that this morning’s service is a bit more solemn than usual. That is on purpose. Apart from the exuberant opening psalm setting (From Heav’n O Praise The Lord—Psalm 148), the Scripture passages and hymns chosen for the service reflect on the sobering call to repentance at the end of Act 3. Hearing Peter urge his brothers to…
This morning’s service presents a theme of healing and restoration, both physical and spiritual. We sing All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name, declaring along with Peter that “faith in His name—has made [us] strong” (Acts 3:16). Scripture readings throughout the service declare God’s promises to “strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees” (Isaiah 35:3), to make…
The hymns and psalms we sing this morning all point to the mission and work of the church, which we see modelled in the short coda to Acts chapter 2. We celebrate that “through the church the song goes on” (Holy God, We Praise Your Name). We confess Christ as the cornerstone of this new Zion that “bind[s] all the…
After the past two weeks where we have seemingly observed Ascension and Pentecost for a second time this year, this Sunday we’ll experience a second Easter! Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 emphasizes the physical reality of Jesus’ resurrection and His victory over death, as do many of the elements in this morning’s service. We’ll be reminded that Jesus called Himself…
If it seems like we just recently sang many of the psalms and hymns in this morning’s service, you’re absolutely correct! Many of these pieces were chosen for the service on May 19 to align with the church calendar (May 19 was Pentecost Sunday this year). This week, the story of Pentecost from Acts 2 is our sermon text. Once…
Most of the elements in this morning’s service relate in some way to Jesus’ ascension, a story found in the first three verses of this morning’s sermon text (Acts 1:9-11). We are called into worship by Psalm 68, which foresees God Himself “ascend[ing] on high, leading a host of captives in [His] train.” We’ll sing several hymns, such as O…
This Sunday we begin a new sermon series in the book of Acts, a series that should take us the better part of a year. Luke describes the book, from the very first verse, as a continuation of the work Jesus began during His earthly ministry. Jesus rose from the dead, and He is still at work in this world…
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds. —Psalm 9:1 We began this “summer in the psalms” with a commandment to recount the things that God has done for us (Psalm 9:1). As we come to the close of this sermon series, we find David again telling what God has done for him,…
When you are in trouble, who do you call for help? Who or what do you trust to be at your side when you need them? This morning’s service points us to a single, heavenly answer to these perennial questions. Various Scripture readings remind us that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13),…
Psalm 19 can be divided into three primary sections, centered around verses 1 (“The heavens declare the glory of God…”), 7 (“The law of the Lord is perfect…”), and 12 (“Who can discern his errors…”). The worship service this morning follows much the same pattern: a focus on both natural and special revelation, followed by a prayer that our speech and attitudes…